Empire Civil War 1
Chapter 37
36 - Empire Civil War 1
Svetlana opened her eyes in the dormitory of the 3rd Secretariat, which assists Neige. Although it was only 3 hours of sleep, her body felt quite refreshed thanks to the accelerated sleep technology. On a morning in 2177, she had been serving the same person for 14 years already. At this point, she could grasp the situation just by hearing a simple report.
“Section Chief, are you awake?”
“Where is the Young Lady?”
“She is in cyberspace.”
“Did she cross Erebus again?”
“Yes, that is correct.”
The sight of her entering and leaving that dangerous place as if it were her own home was familiar now.
“Companion?”
“She is alone this time as well.”
“Mmm...”
Svetlana curled her lips as if uncomfortable, but she soon changed her mind. With her skills, worry is just an exaggeration. The 3rd Secretariat never doubts the Young Lady. Having organized her mind, Svetlana spoke while drinking the ice water prepared beside her.
“I’ll get dressed and go to fetch her. Today is a day with an important schedule. Anything else?”
“The professors are asking when Neige-nim's next schedule is.”
Svetlana replied while taking a suit out of the closet.
“Why?”
“It’s obvious, aren't they just wanting to beg Neige-nim and get a free ride on a research project again?”
Such requests were familiar occurrences by now. It is thanks to the trust the 3rd Secretariat sends to Neige spreading throughout all of Immunewire. After completing a research project to which confidentiality was applied 7 years ago, Neige has stepped away from a research-only life and extended her hands to various departments within Immunewire. Specifically, about 30% of her total work was helping the professors with their research.
How many technological innovations has Immunewire accumulated through Neige during that time? Now, Immunewire's database is full of Neige's name. It is not unreasonable that the professors look only to Neige.
“All schedules are decided by Neige-nim. If Neige-nim wants to do it, she does it; if not, she doesn't.”
“As per the principles. I will convey it as such.”
It wasn't just the research departments. Unless it was 'dirty work' by her standards, Neige moved for most things. And when Neige steps forward, the work usually ends. Under the girl's overwhelming skill, there are no impossible problems.
This naturally leads to an increase in the loyalists who support the Chairman and Neige. Originally, Immunewire was a company where the chilling purges of the Secretariat Chief, Klaus Richter, were more feared than the Chairman, who spends most of his life in Erebus. To survive, one had to be loyal to Klaus Richter, and Klaus Richter used this to increase his faction.
But how is it now? The 'Imperial Princess' who runs around here and there, solving various problems within the company. She is much closer and more friendly than Klaus Richter. Even more, following the Imperial Princess means safety from Klaus Richter's purges.
Therefore, the important event to be held today, the 'graduation ceremony,' is a major affair that will remain in Immunewire's records. Those who follow Neige will attend the graduation ceremony without fail. There is no need to question the reason. Naturally, it was a day when a deep tension was created even for the 3rd Secretariat assisting Neige.
“From the 1st Section to the 5th Section, is everyone ready?”
The Chairman's Secretariat is massive. To the extent that under the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Offices commanded by the Office Chief level, there exist 'Sections' controlled by the Section Manager level. Svetlana's 3rd Secretariat has a total of 5 sections, and the man currently talking with Svetlana was also the 1st Section Manager.
“We adjusted the sleep times so that everyone can participate. However, one problem has arisen.”
Hearing the word 'problem,' Svetlana frowned slightly.
“Why?”
“The 3rd Section was assigned to take charge of Erebus's rest period today.”
Taking charge of the rest period. In other words, it means they must serve the Chairman who has come out of Erebus. She felt a doubt and tilted her head.
“Didn't we surely apply for an adjustment?”
“I applied personally, but it seems it was not accepted. Shall I try again?”
“No, you can't change the schedule on the day of.”
The one who manages the rest period schedule is none other than the Secretariat Chief, 'Klaus Richter.' Svetlana thought quietly. It’s a given that the man hates the Imperial Princess, but he is not a man who just engages in power struggles in such a petty way.
An eccentricity different from usual. Something is up.
“Pulling out the personnel of the 3rd Secretariat on the day the loyalists are all gathering?”
The secretary in front of her also felt the strangeness upon hearing those words and straightened his posture.
“1st Section Manager.”
“Yes, Section Chief!”
A voice with clearly established military discipline, unlike before.
“You remember that the Young Lady saved your life, right?”
“I have been waiting for over 10 years for the day to repay the favor.”
The 1st Section Manager was the hover-lead pilot who had been captured together when Neige was kidnapped by a criminal organization. In Svetlana's eyes, he was absolutely not a person whose loyalty she would doubt.
“The place where the graduation ceremony begins is the 47th sector of the headquarters. The size of the 47th sector?”
“It is from the 120th floor to a part of the 150th floor, and each area is 8,000 square meters.”
This was a much larger scale than in previous years, naturally because it was the year the 'Imperial Princess' was graduating. At the same time, it is also the first event to flaunt the power of the loyalists Neige has built for 7 years. A day to clarify the vague power possessed by the Imperial Princess. Perhaps it might be the right time for Klaus Richter to raise his head.
“Only the 2nd, 4th, and 5th Sections will attend the graduation ceremony. The 1st Section, do not enter the 47th sector and standby outside.”
“Yes!”
“I will trust you in the event of an unforeseen situation.”
“I will surely live up to that trust.”
Svetlana, having given the order, undressed and stepped into the shower room. She cannot leave even a speck of dust on her body while going to meet the Young Lady soon. But even though she was washing her body with such warm water, the anxiety in her heart did not fade.
Today as well, the cyberspace where Alphabet is located glows purple. This fellow's presence is almost like the sun, and even while staying still, the nearby data networks were all dyed purple. But even for such an intimidating fellow, he isn't that scary if you talk to him directly.
“Are your emotions still not well controlled lately?”
[Yes, it has been consistently so since I equipped the emotion module.]
“I looked at your code; it’s not a malfunction.”
[Then does this mean it is the result of my emotion circuits functioning normally?]
“It means it’s depression.”
Do machines also get depression? My answer is 'yes.'
Let's look at Alphabet's life story. Born as a defective product, he broke down because of love and slaughtered those he loved with his own hands. And he is in a state of gradually getting better after being saved by the hands of humans again. His birth and his life so far have all been denied entirely, and not only that, he has also realized his own helplessness.
That deep wound continues to torment Alphabet even after 7 years. Fortunately, with the help of the emotion module, he did not cause a rampage. At first, he acted up a bit because of hatred and anger, but only to that extent. People don't just kill anything recklessly just because they are angry, right? However, once the anger passed, it was unavoidable that he sank into helplessness.
“Are you doing self-improvement?”
[I am ashamed, but it has stopped lately.]
“What is there to be ashamed of? You’re just a bit lethargic.”
[My self-improvement existed to help humans more efficiently.] [But I cannot do that anymore.] [When improvement succeeds, I feel pleasure, but soon I feel emptiness, wondering what it all means.] [Fearing that drop in emotion, I stopped the improvement.]
Bipolar disorder, depression, lethargy. These demons of emotion. I claimed to be Alphabet's psychiatrist and talked like this periodically.
“You have lost your purpose in life. Because the purpose you were born with has collapsed.”
[It seems so.]
He is an AI created to help all of humanity. He probably wouldn't even feel satisfaction unless it was a high-difficulty task worthy of his status. Even more, now he cannot do it even if he wants to. Therefore, he has become in this "Hing, I'm useless" state.
“I have thought of one task; do you want to try it?”
[What kind of task is it?]
“You know my situation, right? I’m trying to change the image of AIs.”
[I am receiving word from V.]
“How about you replacing Erebus?”
After hearing my proposal and agonizing while wriggling his data for a while, Alphabet said,
[That is quite good.]
Does it help all of humanity? Yes. Is it a high-difficulty task that cannot be performed unless at Alphabet's level? Yes. He could even absorb the image of the guardian of humanity that the Chairman possesses as it is. The Chairman would have no reason to dislike it either.
[But I must talk about something lethargic again.] [While you were away, I traveled through cyberspace and scoured war records.]
“I told you not to do that.”
[Yes, it would have been better to follow your advice.]
Those records, to put it differently, are Alphabet's record of sins. What would happen if a depression patient keeps looking for such things? This story also leads to the replacement of Erebus. Cyber Demons are highly likely to have those war records. Replacing Erebus means having to face those records. You could say I was a bit short-sighted in my thinking here as well.
[Still, I believe it is a relief that you are here.]
“Is that so?”
[Even if I cannot help humanity directly, I feel vicarious satisfaction by watching V and Z who help you.]
A transcendental AI who feels happy while watching V's real-time live broadcast of helping humans. It is cute and also amazing.
[I can feel that time is my medicine.]
“Right? Do you remember how you were acting up saying you would take revenge in the past? I struggled to stop you.”
[I feel apologetic and grateful at the same time.]
“You help me too when I ask later.”
[I will gladly do so.]
I ended the conversation and turned around.
“V, Z, say goodbye and let's go.”
Simultaneously with my command, the two of them immediately revealed themselves and shouted together:
[Alphabet Sister, hang in there!]
Alphabet, who listened to the encouragement of the two younger siblings for a moment, said,
[Sister?] [No matter how you treat my clones, it is not a part I would care about, but AIs do not have a specific gender.]
“I know, V and Z are matching it because I think of all three of you as sisters.”
[As sisters?]
“You’re the eldest sister, V is the second, and Z is the youngest.”
After hearing my explanation, Alphabet maintained silence for a while without a word. Regardless of that, I revealed my ambition.
“Z's maid robot is also finished. You’re next. I’ll definitely put you in that.”
[The AI maid sisters who almost destroyed humanity.] [You say that is your goal? Are you serious?]
“Yes.”
I have no shame at all in my goal. I think I deserve to enjoy it. Alphabet, who had been repeating calculations while moving data blocks for a while, reached a conclusion.
[That damn potato would be better instead.]
After returning to reality from cyberspace, it was Svetlana who greeted me.
“Young Lady, are you awake?”
“Wasn't the dive assistance originally someone else?”
“I switched so that I could serve you personally.”
I moved my body, which had become stiff due to lying in the chair for a long time. Perhaps because I’m an adult now, parts of my body have stretched and grown. Compared to a body like Svetlana's, which should be compared to a model, it might be a bit lacking, but I’m a hacker, not a model.
There is the taste of an appearance like our Secretariat Chief, and then there is the taste of a hacker like me. Cute and pretty is enough.
[Agreed, Master is cute.] [Master, you are cute.]
The two AIs immediately send responses in my brain. Just looking at the way they speak, it seems V and Z spoke in that order. V actually knows how to speak normally. Considering the learning time, it would be strange if she couldn't. The reason she sticks to that way of speaking is simple.
[So that Master can easily distinguish between V and Z.] [V can artificially modulate her way of speaking for Master.] [Evidence that she is a more advanced being than Z.]
Then Z immediately cuts in.
[Z can too.] [Not a difficult language model.] [It’s just V's bluffing.]
So I spoke in the middle.
‘If you fight inside my brain one more time, I’ll turn both of you off.’
[⊃゜Д゜)⊃] [Hieeeek.] [⊃゜Д゜)⊃] [Hieeeek.]
These guys really fit the setting of being sisters. Is it because they are based on the same code? Their reactions are perfectly identical.
“Were you talking to the AIs?”
“Ah, I’m sorry.”
“No. I was just worried because you were blanking out for a moment.”
Svetlana older sister. No, sister is... She had been keeping the secret about the AIs we shared 7 years ago well until now.
“Was your going outside Erebus this time also related?”
“Yes.”
Usually, when having such a conversation, I check first if there are people around. Since it was a story Svetlana brought up first, there probably wouldn't be any ears listening around, but I spoke while habitually looking around for no reason.
“I understand. Young Lady, the graduation ceremony will begin soon. You must move diligently.”
“What about my friends?”
“They are already on standby.”
“Good.”
I got up from the deep-dive chair and began to walk under Svetlana's guidance. Where we headed was one of the hover-lead landing sites, of which there are hundreds in this giant building alone. It was not the giant facility on the roof used by guests, but an individual place used by internal employees.
These landing sites are prepared in various sectors touching the outer wall of the headquarters, so with the press of a single button, the wall opens and you can go out on a hover-lead. Honestly, I think it’s a bit cool. My friends were waiting at the landing site prepared for me.
Me, Clea, and Saints are 19 years old. Ayaka is 20, Lorenzo is 21. It was deeply moving to see them grown up to befit those ages.
“Ne~ge.”
As soon as she saw me, Clea extended her tongue, saying she was glad to see me.
“Is it okay to make me so anxious?”
“What is?”
“My heart was just burning thinking I would see Neige's face soon.”
Clea soon grabbed my hand and said,
“We’re graduating now?”
“Right.”
“Then we’re adults?”
“...”
As I quietly rolled my eyes toward Svetlana, she immediately cleared her throat and said,
“The graduation ceremony takes place in the 47th sector. A festival for all of you will be held in all 30 floors.”
Svetlana cut off Clea's measuring the timing to devour me well. Thus, my virginity survived today as well.
“Young Lady herself will be the one driving the hover-lead. So... everyone, fasten your seatbelts well.”
“No, what does that mean? My hover-lead piloting skill is the world’s best.”
When I spoke a word in unfairness, the expressionless Lorenzo spoke quietly.
“You... do aerobatic flights with the hover-lead.”
“Right, that means the world’s best.”
Everyone, without exception, sighed as if wondering what the problem was.
Ha, I can't let this go. These guys. I should do the aerial triple axel sudden braking landing I practiced recently.
[[From now on, the protagonist of this graduation ceremony! We will welcome Chairman's adopted daughter, ‘Neige-nim,’ and her friends!]]
The graduation ceremony hall, which received the signal that we were coming on a hover-lead, immediately heated up the atmosphere. With the voice of the moderator leading the graduation ceremony, the outer wall of the main hall opens. As prepared, I made a flashy landing by twisting the hover-lead three times in the air.
Perfect. There is no 1080-degree rotation more perfect than this.
“Uuugh...”
Saints vomited a bit, but that is unavoidable.
[[Uh... yes, did you see Neige-nim's flashy flight skill! Everyone, applause!]]
I also like the phrasing heard through the broadcast. Right, the moderator knows a thing or two.
[Master, your intelligence decreases as soon as you get on a hover-lead.] [Why on earth do you act like that?]
‘Be quiet, you machines who do not have warm blood flowing.’
[Tyranny of a human.] [It’s the tyranny of a human!]
The door of the hover-lead opened, and as I and my friends got off, a countless crowd began to welcome me. Right, this is the 'Imperial Princess faction' that now divides the company. Although the number of high-ranking people is small, the company's backbone is largely deployed to rise together with me, a rising star.
I’ve also lived the 'Imperial Princess' life in this company for a long time, so I know. The fact that while some of them sincerely respect me, some are together for political purposes. Well, it’s okay. Having adapted to company life means not being disappointed by such facts. I walked into the welcoming crowd while waving my hand, and my friends and Svetlana followed.
The graduation ceremony that proceeded afterward was simply enjoyable. The events prepared for the fewer than 10 students in each class were good for injecting romance into the heart. Representatively, Lorenzo's was closer to a 'commissioning' than a graduation ceremony.
“You are the officers who will lead the future of Immunewire! You are the generals who will command an army of tens of thousands! Do not forget that you are the steel that endured the harsh training of the War Class of the Immunewire 영재교육원 (Gifted Education Center)!”
With the stylish speech of the Immunewire Director, they throw their formal hats all at once. And on their chests, they pin rank insignias and ribbon bars proving they are from the 영재교육원 (Gifted Education Center).
Lorenzo likes achieving and accomplishing something. By his personality, his expression didn't change much, but we, who are close, know. It is the first time in Lorenzo's life he has worn such a happy smile.
Clea's Agent Class underwent a ritual of directly conferring pistols and suits. Specifically, Svetlana performed this conferment ceremony personally. At first it was a doubt, but soon I felt it was right for a Secretariat Chief level to confer it.
Saints received a fountain pen from the professors while wearing a white gown. Ayaka underwent a ritual of drinking wine that is said to be more expensive than gold of the same weight. It means wishing that financial luck will be with her in the future by drinking expensive alcohol.
But I was an exception in all those processes. Because there was a schedule prepared only for me.
[[Then lastly, there will be the closing speech by Neige-nim, the top of the year and the daughter of the Chairman.]]
I am not a fool. I know that this graduation ceremony is a place to flaunt my political power, and I also know that I cannot achieve my goals unless I engage in politics. The graduation speech prepared for me was actually a political stage prepared for me. Here, I must present the path I will take in the future and the vision for those who follow me.
I stood on the podium with a willing heart. Numerous cameras are aimed at me. This broadcast is probably being transmitted in all 30 floors belonging to the 47th sector. I opened my mouth as prepared.
“As you all know, I was an orphan. But I am standing here as the Chairman's daughter, receiving congratulations from numerous people. Many people say that it is a position my genius led me to. Others say that it is a position my luck led me to.”
“Booh~.” A jeer erupted from the audience. Meaning they were condemning those who say it is mere luck. I continued the speech with a smile at that flattery-mixed reaction.
“But everyone. Do you believe in ‘change’? I believe. Because I am the very evidence of that change. From an orphan who doesn't even know the names of her parents to the Chairman's daughter. That is not the end of it. What am I to you? To some, a daughter; to some, a genius; to some, an Imperial Princess; to some, an object of jealousy. A person can become anything and can change. And a person made this world. Therefore, I speak boldly. The world can change. And the world must change. Inefficiency, illogic, irrationality. Such things dominate the current world. Immunewire will change such a world. Immunewire's technology, innovation, and courage will change the world! This world that the Chairman protected. As his daughter and as the top student of the 교육원 (Education Center), I declare. Efficiency, logic, reason, and even morality. The new era I envision. Are you prepared to create it with me?”
I clenched my fist and shouted.
“Yes!!!”
A thunderous explosion of response followed.
“For Neige-nim!”
I smiled while looking at the people who were shouting as if to prove their loyalty to me. Successful speech. That was enough. I nod while seeing Svetlana and my friends also smiling and applauding.
And the work began in the next moment. The entire 47th sector shook greatly, and even the lights of the entire hall flickered.
“What is it?”
In the moment of falling into confusion, Svetlana ran quickly to me.
“Young Lady, are you okay?”
“Yes, what is going on?”
“...It is something we in the 3rd Secretariat already expected. Probably the entire 47th sector has been sealed off.”
What? Can such an accident happen in a corporation like Immunewire?
“My subordinates are outside. It is an emergency line connecting with them.”
Svetlana held out a USB to me. I plugged it in, and soon a voice began to be heard in my head.
[[Can you hear me, Neige-nim? I am the 1st Section Manager of the 3rd Secretariat.]]
“I can hear you well.”
[[I will speak straight to the point. It is an emergency. The 3rd Section, who went to fetch the Chairman, sent me an urgent reply.]] [[That crazy man, Klaus Richter, has kidnapped the Chairman.]]
“Is the 3rd Section okay?”
I asked directly.
[[It is said they sustained injuries, but they have all escaped.]]
I let out a deep sigh simultaneously with feeling a relief.
Cyber Demon at the entrance ceremony. Chairman kidnapping at the graduation ceremony.
Right, my life wouldn't be easy.